THELIGHTHOUSEBuyer Walkthrough

MARKETPLACE · BUYER WALKTHROUGH

Show buyers how to move from interest to a safe handoff.

The buyer side should feel calm and clear. People need to know how to browse everything in one place, save what matters, ask the right first question, report anything off, and keep private details out of the public listing.

Open Marketplace browse Open My Marketplace Review safety rules Open Trust Center
Find itBrowse one unified Marketplace floor instead of guessing which room has the item.
Save itKeep listings, watched searches, private messages, and plans inside My Marketplace.
Ask safelyUse private Lighthouse messages before sharing phone, email, payment, or exact pickup details.
Report concernsBuyers have a clear path when something looks misleading, unsafe, stale, or pressured.

BUYER WALKTHROUGH

The clean path for a buyer.

Start on Browse.Search across buying, selling, free, trade, wanted, tools, materials, space offers, and practical local needs from one Marketplace floor.
Use the quick filters.Switch between all listings, free, wanted, trade, nearby, saved searches, or the listing category without leaving the page.
Open the listing and read the whole card.Check real photos, condition, area, handoff limits, terms, flaws, and whether the seller is asking for anything unusual.
Save before deciding.Saved listings and watched searches come back in My Marketplace so the buyer does not lose what they were comparing.
Send a safe first message.Ask about availability, condition, size, timing, and general handoff area. Avoid sharing exact address, payment handles, or personal contact first.
Make the handoff plan only when it feels right.Confirm item, price or trade terms, general meeting plan, and pickup expectations before exchanging private details.
Report anything that feels wrong.Use Report concern for pressure, scams, prohibited items, stale posts, misleading details, or unsafe contact requests.

GOOD BUYER QUESTIONS

Questions that keep the exchange useful.

  • Is this still available?
  • Can you confirm the condition and any flaws?
  • What is included with it?
  • What general area are you near?
  • What days or times usually work for pickup?
  • Is the price firm, negotiable, free, or trade only?

BUYER RED FLAGS

When to slow down or report.

  • Seller pushes gift cards, wire transfers, or payment before basic details.
  • Public listing includes exact address, door code, phone, email, or payment handle.
  • Photos look like stock images or do not match the description.
  • Condition, ownership, pickup, or price keeps changing.
  • Seller pressures the buyer to leave Lighthouse immediately.
  • The listing appears prohibited, unsafe, fake, or too vague to trust.

COPY-READY BUYER MESSAGES

Give buyers a better first message than “still available?”

These are safe starter messages. They keep the conversation inside Lighthouse and ask for useful details before anyone shares private contact or payment information.

Availability

Hi, I’m interested in this listing. Is it still available, and can you confirm the condition matches the photos?

Pickup planning

Hi, I’m interested. What general area are you near, and what days or times usually work for pickup? I’m not asking for the exact address yet.

Offer or trade

Hi, I’m interested in the listing. Would you consider an offer or trade, and can you confirm what is included before we plan the next step?

WHAT MY MARKETPLACE SHOULD DO FOR BUYERS

Make the return path obvious.

After browsing, buyers should know that My Marketplace is where saved listings, watched searches, private messages, and shared plans return. This stops the experience from feeling like a one-time classified ad page.

Open My Marketplace

OWNER TEST ROUTINE

How to test the buyer path before public growth.

  • Search for a listing by category and keyword.
  • Save it and confirm it returns under My Marketplace.
  • Send a safe message and check that private contact is not public.
  • Report a test concern and confirm it reaches the Review Desk.
  • Clear the report and confirm the listing returns to the right state.

Open review desk